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Lycium chinense

Botanic Family

Solanaceae

Author

Miller

Propagation

C.K.L.S.

Cultivated

C, medicinal uses

Common Names

• Chinese Matrimony Vine
• Chinese Box Thorn
• Gou qi (Pinyin)

Geographical Habitats

• Anhui
• Fujian
• Gansu
• Guangdong
• Guangxi
• Guizhou
• Hainan
• Hebei
• Heilongjiang
• Henan
• Hubei
• Hunan
• Jiangsu
• Jiangxi
• Jilin
• Liaoning
• Qinghai
• Shaanxi
• Shnxi
• Sichuan
• Taiwan
• Xinjiang
• Yunnan
• Zhejiang - China
• Honshu
• Kyushu
• Ryukyu Is.
• Shikoku - Japan
• Korea
• Thailand

Natural Habitats

• Wasteland
• roadsides
• disturbed areas
• thickets
• riverside

Flowering Times

• May-Sep (China)
• Aug-Nov (Japan)

Fruiting Times

• Aug-Nov (China)

Glabrous deciduous vine or erect or sprawling shrub with thorns, striated spiny branches, leaves to 60mm x 30mm, solitary or paired inflorescence, 15mm purple or white flowers & orange-red berry to 30mm long

Can become a weed

Young shoots & leaves cultivated as vegetables, medicinal uses, erosion control. Seed oil used in cooking

Further References

• Rehder 1934
• Bean 1950
• Menninger 1970
• Bailey 1976
• Krussmann 1976
• Huxley 1992
• Rubatzky 1997
• FOC
• The Plant List 2
• G. Don
• Botanicus
• FOJ